Couch Potato: South Carolina debut highlights football season return

2014-11-24T21:43:02Z

Steve Spurrier is in his 10th year as Head Ball Coach at South Carolina, where he has won 11 games each of the last three years. The Gamecocks are a national championship contender this season. (Source: Keith Allison/flickr/image cropped)

The University of Alabama and The University of Texas have announced a home-and-home series between the Crimson Tide and Longhorns. The Tide will travel to Austin in 2022 and the Longhorns will come to Tuscaloosa in 2023.

The University of Alabama and The University of Texas have announced a home-and-home series between the Crimson Tide and Longhorns. The Tide will travel to Austin in 2022 and the Longhorns will come to Tuscaloosa in 2023.

On a steamy and sweltering morning in south Louisiana, the LSU football team officially reported for the start of fall camp. The Tigers checking into the West Campus Apartments Wednesday morning, with their first practice set for Thursday. More >>

On a steamy and sweltering morning in south Louisiana, the LSU football team officially reported for the start of fall camp. The Tigers checking into the West Campus Apartments Wednesday morning, with their first practice set for Thursday. More >>

Leonard Fournette's freshman season got off to a slow start. But after being held to just 18 yards rushing in a season opening win against Wisconsin, Fournette burst into the end zone for a short touchdown run against FCS member Sam Houston State in Tiger Stadium.More >>

Leonard Fournette's freshman season got off to a slow start. But after being held to just 18 yards rushing in a season opening win against Wisconsin, Fournette burst into the end zone for a short touchdown run against FCS member Sam Houston State in Tiger Stadium.More >>

As a Warrick Dunn Player of the Year Award winner, we know Kendell Beckwith possesses both the physical and mental tools to be great on the football field. Now entering his junior year, he said he’s taking his new leadership role on head first. More >>

As a Warrick Dunn Player of the Year Award winner, we know Kendell Beckwith possesses both the physical and mental tools to be great on the football field. Now entering his junior year, he said he’s taking his new leadership role on head first. More >>

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File). FILE - In this Monday, Sept. 12, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid (35) and quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles...

With its popularity threatened and critics stretching all the way to the White House, the NFL tries to get past the debate over taking a knee during the national anthem but seems to muddle the issue even more.

With its popularity threatened and critics stretching all the way to the White House, the NFL tries to get past the debate over taking a knee during the national anthem but seems to muddle the issue even more.

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File). FILE - In this March 21, 2018, file photo, Serena Williams makes a return against Naomi Osaka, of Japan, during the Miami Open tennis tournament in Key Biscayne, Fla. Serena Williams will be competing in the French Open t...

French Open organizers say two-time champions Serena and Venus Williams will compete in the doubles tournament at Roland Garros.More >>

French Open organizers say two-time champions Serena and Venus Williams will compete in the doubles tournament at Roland Garros.More >>

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa). Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) loses the ball out of bounds under defensive pressure from Boston Celtics forward Marcus Morris (13) during the first quarter of Game 5 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference fin...

Rookie Jayson Tatum had 24 points and Al Horford had 15 points and 12 rebounds to help the Boston Celtics beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 96-83 and take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals.More >>

Rookie Jayson Tatum had 24 points and Al Horford had 15 points and 12 rebounds to help the Boston Celtics beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 96-83 and take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals.More >>

Tyler Davis scored 20 points, including Texas A&M's final basket, and the Aggies defeated Mississippi 71-69 on Tuesday night for A&M's first victory in Southeastern Conference play this season. The Rebels' Breein Tyree missed a 3-point attempt at the other end that rattled in and out as time expired.

Tyler Davis scored 20 points, including Texas A&M's final basket, and the Aggies defeated Mississippi 71-69 on Tuesday night for A&M's first victory in Southeastern Conference play this season. The Rebels' Breein Tyree missed a 3-point attempt at the other end that rattled in and out as time expired.

Alabama knocked off No. 1 Mississippi State, Georgia toppled Auburn, Arkansas picked up its first SEC win and a coach was fired.More >>

Alabama knocked off No. 1 Mississippi State, Georgia toppled Auburn, Arkansas picked up its first SEC win and a coach was fired.More >>

(RNN) - The long months of darkness and despair are at last at an end. Football season begins in earnest Thursday – I'm not counting that monstrosity last Saturday at the place in Washington with the bright red field. I still have an eye twitch. Real ball is underway. Rejoice.

Thursday, Aug. 28

Texas A&M at No. 9 South Carolina

The greatest SEC season opener since last year kicks at 5 p.m. ET on the SEC Network, which is the best thing to happen to the South since the invention of air conditioning.

We find out if the Gamecocks are prepped for a relentless slaughter march to world domination or if they're just going to have another 11-win season and not get a whiff of a national championship. Winning 11 games three years in a row at South Carolina is a middle-sized miracle, but if the Young Ball Coach still possesses water-walking capability in his twilight years, this is the season we find out.

We also find out if Texas A&M will become the SEC dumpster diver it was predicted to be when it joined the league two years ago, back before we knew that Manziel kid was a killing machine. The Aggie defense has been retooled, and not a moment too soon, since it offered slightly more resistance than high humidity the last two years, forcing Manziel to score every other play to stay in the game. This was fun to watch, don't get me wrong.

Kenny Hill is the sophomore quarterback who won the start away from highly touted freshman Kyle Allen. He has the proper pedigree to succeed party animal Johnny Football – at 3 o'clock on a fine March morning last spring police found him passed out drunk in a planter outside a College Station restaurant. He replied “Bush” when authorities asked who the current president was - he must have thought they were asking him what kind of plant he was sleeping under. So off he went to jail.

If the kid goes all Kenny Football on the Gamecocks, then it's money signs, scandal and fun ahoy. If Gamecock defenders pummel him into agitation and humility, then everybody will go, “Why didn't you start the freshman, Coach Kevin Sumlin?! He was highly touted!”

And it will be a mess, which will be a less enjoyable sort of fun.

South Carolina is a 10.5-point favorite, and the over-under is 57.

Boise State at No. 18 Ole Miss

The Broncos used to be the little team that people who didn't know any better used to say was good enough to be a contender for the national championship. Nobody says that much anymore.

Ole Miss is the up-and-coming team in the SEC after coach Hugh Freeze directed the Rebels to a 15-11 record over the past two years. Yes, that doesn't sound like much, but it was a good 15-11. He has put together a couple of good recruiting years, and third-year starting quarterback Bo Wallace has been a solid passer, though he tends to throw it to the other team by accident a lot and he infamously fumbled on the 1 against Mississippi State in last year's Egg Bowl.

He had the most golden, flowing locks in football history until he got a haircut this year, which makes him look like that Viking vampire on True Blood.

The Rebels have a good defense, especially the secondary. That Cody Prewitt kid had six interceptions last year and made All-American.

Ole Miss is a 9.5 point favorite and this one is in the Georgia Dome in the Chicken Sandwich preseason game.

Temple at Vanderbilt

The Derek Mason era begins after James Franklin jumped ship to go coach Penn State. Other than that, well, let's see... last year, Temple went 8-1 against the spread as an underdog and 5-1 ATS as a road dog, so if you're gambling, take Temple. That's the only reason to watch this game I can think of – other than being a graduate of Vandy, Temple or both.

Vanderbilt's football team might make a good basketball team this year. The 6'4" tall Patton Robinette has been named the Vandy quarterback, beating out the 6'7" Stephen Rivers, the brother of NFL QB Phillip. Rivers is from Athens, AL, the home of great band The Alabama Shakes, an amazing band to which you should listen.

Robinette started a couple of games last year, including the win at Florida after the Gators had folded their tent.

He threw a lot of interceptions. This game starts at 9:15 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.

Saturday's games will be featured in another edition of Couch Potato to run in the very near future.

Florida freshman right-hander Tommy Mace limited LSU to one earned run in seven innings Wednesday night as the Gators edged the Tigers, 4-3, in the second round of the SEC Tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

Florida freshman right-hander Tommy Mace limited LSU to one earned run in seven innings Wednesday night as the Gators edged the Tigers, 4-3, in the second round of the SEC Tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.